“Walking the property” has been our phrase for nearly forty years. We used say it when we arrived home after work and walked the garden, which in the days we began using this phrase was a small suburban garden which could be walked at the slowest pace in five minutes but we imagined it was a great space; we were delighted with it and it was our “property.”
Our garden today is much bigger; we no longer go to work (except, of course, in the garden) but we still “walk the property” when we return after being away for a few days, as was the case yesterday.
A fading of the flowers, a change in the colour of the hydrangeas and in the alder in the background all hint at the change of seasons
Walking the property, even after a brief absence, will reveal changes since our departure. As expected, the grass will need to be cut – does it ever stop growing! – some things may have suffered from our absence – potted plants in need of watering – and we will be surprised by those flowers which have recently emerged.
The grass can be cut in due course (which I did today); the suffering plants receive immediate attention but most of all we delight in the latest arrivals and most recent changes in the garden. We are certainly into autumn as we see changes in colours, a certain fading, an emergence of berries.
Walking the property remains a special time in the garden and will remain so for years to come, I hope.
Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener 
Yes walking the property is a delight especially when there are so many beautiful treasures on display. But even if one has not the largesse we see here everyone can find some thing to delight the eye and lift the soul.( In my case one solitary colchicum that sprung itself out of the blue today). But its a weird season with Magnolia blossom and rhododendron blooms showing a second time. Not a lot but definitely there.
Its particularly nice when you clear a patch or rejuvenate a bed or shift a rock and later that evening you go down to not exactly gloat over the improvement but nevertheless enjoy a jab of pride and a feeling of having spent time well that day.
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You know the feeling perfectly, Peter. It’s a time to look, watch out for anything not previously noted or simply to note what is there and be happy with it.
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Those Colchicums are gorgeous!
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Yes, I’m delighted with them. ‘Benton End’ is a new one for me and this is its first flowering. It’s a richer and darker colour than all others that I grow and very attractive. It already has a second flower so it promises to be a good grower. ‘Nancy Lindsay’ comes early with me – which is always something to be appreciated – and it grows very well here, increasing well etc. Also, it is of small stature and holds itself up well rather than collapsing as many of the colchicums do. Two good ones. Many others are just now peeping through the ground.
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As usual, beautiful photos! White flowers always give me such trouble.
I didn’t realize you had such a good sized property and nice to see such meticulous maintenance. The colchicums are just starting here and in a few days ‘Nancy Lindsay’ will also be the star of my bed. She is just as reliable and showy on this side of the Atlantic as she is on yours.
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“Property” has always been used in a humorous way here and doesn’t imply any great size. The garden is about an acre and a half, I reckon; a rural garden just outside town.
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Haha so funny because even if it only to announce it to Meg and Maise when I return from my few days in Tramore I always say come on lets walk the ESTATE!!! Always said this even with my really small Dublin garden.
Just hope nobody overhears me sometime and thinks I have idea far above my station!!
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“Estate”! And I thought I might be considered as having notions with my “property”. LOL You’ll have good company as you walk the estate!
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